Daily Mail: Striker flies into Leeds after being granted permission to quit top-flight club

Pierre-Michel Lasogga was in Leeds on Saturday after being granted permission to quit Hamburg, according to a report.

The Daily Mail claim Leeds United are confident of signing the forward, 25, on a deal that would be an initial loan with an option to buy.

It is said that Hamburg want to offload Lasogga as they look to slash their wage bill ahead of the new Bundesliga season.

Intriguingly, social media pictures showed the German sat with the United squad earlier on Saturday as they relaxed with their families at the Clayton Hotel in Leeds city centre ahead of their goalless draw against Preston at Elland Road.

The former Germany Under-21 international is currently carrying a minor injury and is not training with Hamburg after being frozen out of their first team set-up.

He scored only one league goal last season, and just two from 22 matches in all competitions, but has a fine track record in the Bundesliga.

The Yorkshire club’s reported interest comes at a time when they are fending off huge interest in striker Chris Wood.

The front man was part of a Leeds side that could not break down 10-man Preston as they drew 0-0 at Elland Road in the Championship on Saturday.